Los Angeles Unified School District

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Los Angeles Unified School District - USA Project type : e-Enabled learning tools Project name : Instructional Technology Initiative Date : Apr 2015  Cost : $1.3B Synopsis : Bringing equal opportunity to students from all economic backgrounds is a noble and justifiable goal, but having a noble goal doesn't make a project any easier. The Los Angeles Unifie...
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Target Canada

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Target - Canada Project type : Retail store opening Project name : Unknown Date : Jan 2015  Cost : In the region of $7B Synopsis : Drawn by lower prices, it is common for Canadian families to cross over into the USA to grab their shopping. One favourite destination has always been the US retailer known as "Target". Famous for their large red and white bul...
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Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services - Canada Project type : Welfare management system Project name : Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) Date : Mar 2015  Cost : $214M Synopsis : It's a narrative that journalists and popular opinion love to draw upon: government can't run projects. While such journalists are often overlooking the many ...
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Christmas Blunderland

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Christmas Blunderland - UK Project type : An assortment of Christmas themed entertainment parks Date : Nov-Dec  - 2008, 2013 and 2014  Cost : Unknown Synopsis : One definition of success is "meeting or exceeding expectations". Satisfy expectations of the customer or stakeholders and the project is viewed as a success. Fall short of expectations and no matt...
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IBM

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. IBM (International Business Machines) - USA Project type : Organizational performance improvement and strategic realignment Project name : Roadmap 2015 Date : 2010-2014  Cost : Unknown Synopsis : Most of the projects noted in the catalogue were aimed at producing some form of product or tangible deliverable. IBM’s “Roadmap 2015” initiative is a little dif...
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SNCF

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français) / RFF (Réseau Ferré de France) - France Project type : New trains Project name : Regiolis / Regio 2N Date : May 2014  Cost : In the region of $15B Euro Synopsis : Even a single missed detail has the potential to cause significant problems.  Having purchased 2,000 new trains French Railway company SNCF f...
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Sinking of the RMS Tayleur

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. White Star Line Project name : RMS Tayleur Project type : Passenger ship Date : 1854 (filed under historical failures) Cost : Unknown Synopsis : The sinking of the White Star Line's Titanic on her first voyage is one of the world's classic disaster stories. What few people know is that the Titanic was not the first passenger liner sailing under the White St...
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State of Oregon

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Oregon Health Authority - USA Project type : e-Commerce marketplace Project name : Cover Oregon Date : Apr 2014  Cost : $248M Synopsis : The problems implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the USA have been well documented. Intended to expand the availability of health insurance to a larger number of people, ACA gave individual states the choice of...
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State of Minnesota

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. State of Minnesota - USA Project type : e-Commerce marketplace Project name : The Affordable Care Act - MNsure Date : Jan 2014  Cost : In the region of $150M USD Synopsis : In Oct 2013, President Obama's Healthcare.gov website caused a stir by becoming the year's biggest troubled IT project story.  What got less attention was the fact that some of the US ...
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Avon Products

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Avon Products - Canada Project type : Product sales and ordering system Project name : The "Promise" project Date : Dec 2013  Cost : $100 to $125M Synopsis : Ding-dong - Avon calling. According to reports, a significant number of the Avon sales team in Canada will no longer be pressing any doorbells. One of the world's most established direct sales compan...
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